Volunteering in Times of COVID-19

Teresa McKinney first learned about Urban Upbound when she joined the ministry of Urban Upbound’s co-founder and CEO, Bishop Mitchell Taylor, about 10 years ago. When Teresa, a long-time Astoria Houses resident, heard that Urban Upbound was looking for volunteers to assist in distributing meals and fresh produce in her neighborhood, she jumped right in to help coordinate the effort.

Teresa describes herself as always having her hands on something. She was the Youth Director at the Center of Hope International, the President of her children’s school’s PTA, and the President of the Touchdown Club. Always wanting to know more about her community, Teresa connected with Ms. Claudia Coger, Astoria Houses Tenant Association President, who took Teresa under her wing.

Despite an injury she sustained during an accident at work a couple of years ago, and ever the entrepreneur, Teresa started a small jewelry business, Miss Tee Jewelz, and is now looking to establish a daycare. She had begun working with Urban Upbound’s Worker Cooperative Initiative team to prepare a business financial plan when the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Volunteering with Urban Upbound to support our COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Efforts during the pandemic can take a toll on her at times, but Teresa sees how badly her community needs the support during these hard times. “It warms my heart,” she told us. “It’s beautiful and I saw that they are really grateful.” Thank you, Teresa! And thank you to all our other volunteers, donors and supporters!